Boston Bomb Attack No Excuse for Media Speculation

[xchrom]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-15/boston-bomb-attack-no-excuse-for-media-speculation.html

As if to provide a warning to commentators, prognosticators, ax-grinders, think-tankers and television analysts about the dangers of petty speculation, the New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof posted this thought on Twitter a few minutes after today’s apparent bomb attack in Boston: “explosion is a reminder that ATF needs a director. Shame on Senate Republicans for blocking apptment.”

Part of talking for a living is knowing when to shut up. It is obviously true that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives needs a director. It might even be true that Republicans could try a lot harder to put a director in place. But after an explosion about which we know almost nothing, and in the face of sudden, violent death at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, this is not the time to guess about the perpetrators or to recommend policy fixes that would prevent such attacks from taking place. It certainly is no time to suggest that a political party you happen not to like is to blame for a tragedy about which you know nothing.

I don’t mean to single out Kristof (who has already apologized and taken the post down). In an era in which none of us like to leave anything unsaid, and in which technology offers us the opportunity to say things fast, we often succumb to the urge to speculate. Shortly after the 2011 shootings in Norway, I asked publicly whether a Mumbai-type attack had visited Europe, the implication being that Muslim terrorists were behind the atrocity. It was perfectly plausible to suggest that Muslim terrorists were to blame -- except that they weren’t. I learned my lesson.

Tomorrow or the next day, when law enforcement officers and journalists have done their work, there will be time to analyze and criticize and learn from whatever it is we just saw. But not today. Please, let’s wait to find out who did this and why it happened.

[cali]

1. k&r

[dipsydoodle]

2. Any current speculation until some facts are actually confirmed

is absurd especially here on DU.

[liberal N proud]

3. They ran out of things to talk about.

They had to keep the sensationalism going or the feeding frenzy would be over for them.

[Buffalo Bull]

4. they do it every time.....

After Oklahoma City the media reported an arab connection
Same dog, new day.


Seldom have so many been so wrong—so quickly. In the wake of the explosion that destroyed the Murrah Federal Office Building, the media rushed—almost en masse—to the assumption that the bombing was the work of Muslim extremists. "The betting here is on Middle East terrorists," declared CBS News' Jim Stewart just hours after the blast (4/19/95). "The fact that it was such a powerful bomb in Oklahoma City immediately drew investigators to consider deadly parallels that all have roots in the Middle East," ABC's John McWethy proclaimed the same day.

[Heather MC]

5. I already heard it was a black guy, in a black hoodie, with a black backpack.

Dare I say it. It was Trayvon Martin!

I have decided to stop reading "News" reports about this tragedy until the the fairy tales stop.

[cartach]

15. Two backpacks. EOM

[Roland99]

21. Yeah...and the bombs were filled with Skittles

[glowing]

6. I agree completely. The media is in a frenzie... And people are so damned divided in this country..

People are posting all kinds of crazy things. Fighting about a nuance of verbage coming from the Presidents mouth (tragedy/ terrorism? who cares which was said, people died and were seriously injured.) Its so tiring to see the crap being spewed within seconds of the explosion. Can we not just let the evidence lead to the person/ people who were responsible for this?

[cartach]

16. Is the President supposed to say nothing?

The leader of the country? Get real. Maybe you should turn off the TV if you haven't got used to people's reaction to these kinds of incidents by now.

[glowing]

23. Guess you haven't caught the Republican Faux Noise outrage over his remarks..

The President said "tragedy" instead of "terrorist attack" and Bill O'Reilly started an all out hate fest.. And then an hour later Rachel was even reporting on it (being ridiculous about verbage nuances). Yes, it should be reported on in a responsible manner. When anyone who is investigating has valuable information or is asking for a particular tip, then the media should report. What I object to is the over the top sensationalism that is the media. They are speculating pure theory and "blaming" some types of groups... (I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a blow back of muslims being attacked from their spewing mouths).

And then there is already the conspiracy theorists and their "false flags" and people on top of buildings and bomb sniffing dogs... those items were posted withing minutes of the bombing occurring. These are the items I am referring to. And yes, I've turned off the tv. I will find out any late breaking anything from here. People who can stand the bs of conflating this to the 9/11 will be posting any new leads or what not that break.

[leftyohiolib]

7. he shouldn't have apologized the atf needs a director and the senate needs to quit stalling

reminds me of when napolitano said what she said about homegrown white supremists. she was shamed into apologizing and yet here where are.

[Buzz Clik]

8. Gratefully, DU showed its collective wisdom and refrained from speculation and instant accusation.

not

[Turbineguy]

9. Fox was quick to mention a Saudi national here on a student visa.

Of course they could not possibly believe it was one of their disciples.

[Archae]

10. I see one of three scenarios...

One: Islamic bombing.
Possible, but unlikely, to me.

Two: Far-right "militia" group against government/taxes/New World Order/whatever.
More credible.

Three: One or two nutcase(s) against the "enemies" in group two, like McVeigh and his cronies.
Wouldn't bet money against it.

[cartach]

17. Four: Tea Partier gone over the edge. EOM

[veganlush]

11. bullshit.

It was an intentional bombing. There's absolutely nothing wrong with what Kristof said. The department of Alcohol, Tobacco, firearms and explosives should have a director.

[Exultant Democracy]

19. I agree 100% it is the type of thing that must be said and now, not later.

[ginnyinWI]

12. NPR kept its mouth shut.

I had "Talk of the Nation" on in the afternoon as I worked. They would take breaks in their programming to say something like, "what we know for sure is that there were two explosions. Our correspondent is making their way to the scene and then we will report more when we know more." I loved it.

[Jerry442]

13. Yes, benefits no one to randomly run your mouth in the chaotic hours afterward, but...

...I think it's Digby who's been pushing the idea that to suspend discussion of the issues after a tragedy makes no sense. Politics is not supposed to be a colorful spectator sport that can be put on hiatus indefinitely while the grownups cope with major problems. Politics is supposed to be the grownups having a serious conversation about how to deal with those problems, and to refrain from discussing those problems while they're staring you in the face pretty much means you've given up on the usefulness of politics. That means the decision-making is left in the hands of.....who?

[MADem]

14. There's a local reporter here who did some speculating, but I have to say, I loved it.

He said, in the early moments of the reporting, "That's no gas explosion, that's no manhole cover explosion, that's a BOMB, and I hope they catch the SOB that did it," or words to that effect.

One thing the Boston reporters are careful to NOT do is accuse any one person. They are triple sourcing anything that has to do with "persons of interest" and it's a good thing. I think they're all remembering examples like Richard Jewell, that poor pudgy guy who had his life ruined when everyone accused him of being the Olympic bomber, when he was the guy who found the damned bomb.

[Exultant Democracy]

18. Anytime someone says its not that time, it pretty much means its the only time.

If you wait until it is "the time" nothing will ever change.

[FailureToCommunicate]

20. Morning Joe just said that 'More surveillance cameras needed. If this had happened in London

they'd already have the guy in custody.'

Ugh.

I never watch his show, turned past it seeking new news of yesterday, won't do that again.

[davidn3600]

24. Someone tell Joe there WERE about a dozen cameras on that spot.

[blackspade]

22. So he has to apologise for being correct?

today’s apparent bomb attack in Boston: “explosion is a reminder that ATF needs a director. Shame on Senate Republicans for blocking apptment.”

This a true statement and in no way makes light of the bombing, or insinuates that having said director would have stopped it.
It does point out a systemic problem with the Republicans that leaves the nation vulnerable because there is no continuity of leadership in many agencies thanks to their obstructionism.

[cbdo2007]

25. "They" have no shame, so we have to speculate to allow other viewpoints out there....

otherwise people will be in the streets throwing stuff randomly at every Saudi looking person they see.

[X_Digger]

26. In the gap between tragedy and investigation..

People treat it like a blank canvas, painting their particular bugabear as the reason.

They want to be able to say, "I told you so." so badly that all sense goes out the window.

*sigh*

[Mnpaul]

27. Charlie Rose on CBS

Why were there so many garbage cans at the site?